Community Coaching Program

What is the Community Coaching Program?

EUPA is committed to providing opportunities for skill development for all players within their context. The Community Coaching program is one of the new programs that EUPA is rolling out to help our Summer League teams and players get what they are looking for in terms of skill development. Whether your team is serious about being their best at Ultimate or just wants some sideline support, the Community Coaching Program is flexible and can be tailored to what you need or want.

How does it work?

You tell us your team is looking for some coaching support.

EUPA members willing to volunteer as Community Coaches tell us they’re interested in helping out.

We work to find the right team-coach combo!

A Community Coach can come to games or practices (if your team practices) and work with you to help your team get what they’re looking for out of the program. If your team doesn’t practice but would like a bit more one-on-one time, your Coach could come early or stay late to run a mini practice or strategy session before or after a league game. Depending on what your team wants, we could provide you with a few options. We can aim to get you a coach that can make it out only once to get you started, get you a coach who can make it out a few times over consecutive weeks for some extra help or maybe get you a coach who can come out a couple of times throughout the season as you discover new aspects of the game you would like help with.

Who is the Community Coaching program for?

Teams:

Community Coaches are available for all levels of teams. Maybe you are brand new and want a walk through on some basic strategy, rules or some fun warm up drills to use. Maybe you have the basics down and want to try out a new offensive or defensive strategy or someone to help teach the finer points of throwing. Maybe you’ve been playing together forever now and want to push yourselves with some more advanced strategy, skills or drills.

Our Community Coach Coordinator will work to match your team up with a Coach who can help your team get what they’re looking for out of the program.

Our Community Coach Coordinator will work with you to find a coach that meets your needs.

Take advantage of the Community Coaching program to help your team get what they are looking for.

After your first Community Coach session, please contact Community Coach Coordinator and give them a brief overview of your coaching experience.

Community Coaches:

Are you an EUPA member looking to get more involved? Have you taken our NCCP courses and want to put those skills to use, been playing Ultimate for a while and know your stuff, or are you a competitive player wanting to share your knowledge? With the varying levels of experience among league teams and their different goals, you don’t need to be an Ultimate know-it-all to help out. If you have the time, enthusiasm and energy to coach, we want you!

Be honest about your abilities and what you feel comfortable coaching, we will work to find the right team for you to coach.

Looking to be a Community Coach?

Community Coaches must be knowledgeable about the rules of Ultimate, be honest about their abilities, and comfortable teaching groups from their experience. Each team requesting a Coach will have its own individual needs that Coaches must have the flexibility to accommodate.

EUPA expects that all of the below criteria be met by every Community Coach.

The Coordinator will review your application and work to match you up with the right team looking for a Community Coach.

League Game:

Set up

Optional: Pick up a Coaching Kit, if required.

Contact Captain via email a minimum of 1 week before coaching date, to confirm your attendance, and organizing a drill/pre-game activity before/after a scheduled league game.

Arrive a minimum of 30 minutes prior to start time if a pre-game drill/strategy session was requested. Introduce yourself to the Captain and players as they arrive.

Set up and run drills or a strategy session.

Arrive 15 minutes prior to start time if a pre-game drill/strategy session was not requested and introduce yourself to the Captain and players as they arrive.

Assist with setting up fields; ensure the field it set up correctly including collapsible cones. Introduce yourself to the opposing team’s Captain and Spirit Captain.

Game Time

At all times, be aware of the level experience among the players you are coaching and the goals of the team.

Watch and analyze the players’ and teams’ weakness and strengths and discuss these between points.

Help keep track of the score and assist with any rule misunderstandings or discrepancies.

Use on-field examples to highlight strengths and areas for improvement with players on the sideline.

Lead a half-time discussion covering strengths from the first half and 1-2 areas of focus for improvement for the second half.

Provide the team with a short overall evaluation including 1-3 main areas of focus for improvement.

Encourage Post Game ‘Spirit’ activities. Lead one if applicable.

Practice:

Set up

Optional: Pick up a Coaching Kit, if required

Contact Captain via email a minimum of 1 week before coaching date, to confirm your attendance, (deleted word) inquire about practice structure and work with Captain to understand what their team is looking for. Design a practice plan to meet these needs.

At all times, be aware of the level experience among the players you are coaching and the goals of the team.

Arrive on time to scheduled practice and introduce yourself to the Captain and players as they arrive.

Run practice as planned, making modifications as required.

Assist with any rule misunderstandings or discrepancies.

Watch individual players and the team to identify strengths and weaknesses. Use on-field examples to highlight strengths and areas for improvement with players on the sideline (if possible).

Provide the team with a short overall evaluation including 1-3 main areas of focus for improvement.

After Coaching:

Contact Community Coach Coordinator and give a brief overview of your coaching experience. This should include structure of coaching (game or practice), whether or not pre-game drills or strategy sessions were used, (deleted word) what was covered, and any other pertinent feedback. This is to be done within 2 days of the coaching experience.